Association between hepatitis B virus basal core promoter/precore region mutations and the risk of hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure in the Chinese population: an updated meta-analysis

Background

The relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutations in basal core promoter (BCP) and precore (PC) regions and the risk of hepatitis B-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HB-ACLF) remains uncertain.

Methods

Databases were searched for papers that were published in English or Chinese until April 31, 2015. The odds ratios (ORs) of HBV mutation were pooled by using a fixed or random-effects model according to heterogeneity.

Results

Data for 13 studies with a total of 1,149 HB-ACLF and 1,867 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cases were retrieved. Statistically significant summary ORs for HB-ACLF were obtained for T1753V (1.99; 95 % confidence interval 1.30–3.02) and A1762T/G1764A (2.11; 95 %, 1.75–2.54) in the BCP region and for A1846T (3.33; 95 %, 2.23–4.97), G1896A (2.78; 95 %, 2.07–3.74), and G1899A (3.09; 95 %, 1.82–5.25) in the PC region. In subgroup analysis, BCP mutations were found to have higher ORs in age-matched studies, but PC mutations were found to have higher ORs in age-unmatched studies; patients with the mutations in HBV genotype C were more susceptible to HB-ACLF; patients with pre-existing liver cirrhosis had a higher risk of HB-ACLF occurrence. In sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy analysis, A1762T/G1764A had the highest sensitivity (67.43 %); A1762T/G1764A + G1896A triple mutations had the highest specificity (93.70 %); and T1753V + A1762T + G1764A mutation had the highest accuracy (65.42 %).

Conclusions

HBV T1753V, A1762T/G1764A, A1846T, G1896A, and G1899A mutations are correlated with an increase in the risk of HB-ACLF. These mutations alone and in combination may be predictive of the susceptibility of patients with CHB to developing HB-ACLF.